FV432 – ‘Trojan’ Armoured Personnel Carrier.
Design details were published in August 1959 for a troop carrier. Several prototypes were made and delivered in to service for troop trials in 1961. After an iterative exercise of improvements the production version was approved in July 1962.
The original unit had a Rolls Royce B80 Engine fitted, which was found to be inadequate. This was later upgraded to a B81 in the production units (Mk 1’s) and then later to a K60 Diesel Engine (Mk.2’s)
The track links on the original prototype were held together by circlips, but these were replaced by Nylock nuts on the production versions.
An early version of this FV432 prototype can be seen at Combatton Military Museum in Devon.
The FV432 Troop Carrier has been very successful and is still in service with the British Army today. There are thirteen variants of the FV432, including Wombat Role, Carl Kustav Role, Armoured Ambulance and Rarden Turret. See literature section for full listing of the roles.
Some specific versions include the FV 432 Recovery. This was based on the basic vehicle, with a Turned winch fitted in side the crew compartment. An earth anchor was also fitted. The winch was fed from the rear of the vehicle. A standard FV432 was used, so no special FV number was allocated to it.
FV432/30 - Approx 13 FV432 were fitted with a CVRT(W) Fox turret, designed to give close support to the Infantry, much the same as Warrior MCVT does today. In the end they only served with the Berlin Brigade, before they were withdrawn. After that they were used as OPFOR vehicles at Warminster. They are now probably back at Ashchurch, awaiting disposal